TEXAS SCHOOL SURVEY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE

STAR ISD

SECONDARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

OVERVIEW

In the Spring of 1994, the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, in conjunction with
the Public Policy Research Institute at Texas A&M University, administered a survey to
students in grades 7 through 12 in the Star Independent School District (SISD). A total of 51
students completed the questionnaire, which asked about students' experiences with alcohol and
drugs. Of that number, 6 surveys were excluded from analysis because students did not indicate
their grade or age, or because they were identified as exaggerators (i.e., claimed to have used a
non-existent drug or reported overly excessive drug use). The final number of surveys included
in the overall district analysis was 45.1

Students' responses to the questionnaire indicate that:

•Sixty-four percent of Star ISD students reported using tobacco at least once during
their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 27 percent said they had used tobacco during the past
month (Fig. 2).

•Eight percent of SISD students said they smoke cigarettes on a daily basis, while 3
percent reported using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis.

•Sixty-seven percent of Star ISD students said they had used alcohol at least once during
their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 18* percent reported using alcohol during the past
month (Fig. 2).2

•Fifteen percent of SISD students reported attending at least one class during the past
year while "drunk," and 8 percent of district 9th through 12th grade students said

1 The percentages referred to in the executive summary were taken from the tables found in "Part I
(Standardized): District Survey Results." Sixth grade student participation in the secondary survey has been
eliminated throughout this report so that comparisons can be made with statewide data. Due to the differences
in rounding procedures, there may be slight discrepancies between the percentages referred to in the tables and
those reflected in the executive summary and in the corresponding figures. Figures referenced throughout this
report are included in "Part III: Executive Summary."

2 Data in this report marked with an asterisk are estimated to be statistically significant at the .01 level from
the comparable data for the state as a whole. This means that in only one of a hundred samples would a
difference this large have occurred when there was no difference between the district and state data. Differences
in very small districts will seldom be statistically significant due to the small number of cases. Differences that
are not marked may be important, but should be treated with more caution than those that are statistically
significant.

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 they had driven a car at least once during the past year after having "a good bit
to drink."

•Lifetime use of inhalants was reported by 29 percent of district students (Fig. 1), while
past-month inhalant use was reported by 6 percent (Fig. 2).

•Twenty-six percent of SISD students reported using marijuana at least once during
their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 4 percent said they had used marijuana during the
past month (Fig. 2).

•Star ISD students are most likely to turn to friends for help with a drug or alcohol
problem (75 percent) and least likely to consult a counselor or program outside
of school (37 percent) (Fig. 17).

Tobacco

Over the last two years, the general use of tobacco (including cigarettes and smokeless
products) among students statewide has stayed much the same. Overall, the general use of
tobacco products among Star ISD students is somewhat higher than that reported by their
counterparts statewide.

Sixty-four percent of Star students reported general tobacco use at least once during their
lifetimes (55 percent statewide) (Fig. 1).3 Twenty-seven percent of Star ISD students said they
had used a tobacco product during the past month (24 percent statewide) (Fig. 2).

Fifty-six percent of Star students reported smoking cigarettes at least once during their lifetimes
(52 percent statewide), and 25 percent said they had smoked cigarettes during the past month
(22 percent statewide). Smoking cigarettes on a daily basis was reported by 8 percent of district
students (7 percent statewide), while 12 percent said most or all of their close friends smoke
cigarettes (19 percent statewide).

Lifetime use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 49* percent of SISD students (17
percent statewide), while 20* percent said they had used a smokeless tobacco product during
the past month (6 percent statewide), rates higher than those reported by their counterparts
statewide. Using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis was reported by 3 percent of
district students (2 percent statewide), and 10 percent said most or all of their close friends use
smokeless tobacco (5 percent statewide).

Alcohol

3 Due to the small number of students surveyed in this district, no between-grade comparisons can be made.

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Alcohol is the most widely used substance among students statewide and in the Star ISD.
Alcohol use among secondary students statewide was similar to that reported two years ago.
Overall, Star ISD students are drinking alcohol at rates somewhat lower than those reported by
their peers statewide.

Sixty-seven percent of Star students reported consuming alcohol at least once during their
lifetimes (74 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Eighteen* percent of Star ISD students said they had
consumed alcohol during the past month, a rate lower than that reported by their counterparts
statewide (39 percent) (Fig. 2).

The alcoholic beverages most often consumed by Star students are beer (51 percent/59 percent
statewide) and wine coolers (37 percent/61 percent statewide). Fifteen* percent of SISD
students said they drink beer on a weekly or monthly basis (37 percent statewide), and 9*
percent said they drink wine coolers weekly or monthly (34 percent statewide), rates lower than
those reported by their peers statewide.

"Binge drinking" is the consumption of five or more beers, wine coolers, servings of wine, or
drinks with liquor at one time. Twenty-nine percent of Star ISD students reported "binge
drinking" beer at least once during the past year (39 percent statewide), while 19 percent said
they usually drink five or more beers at a time on average when they drink (20 percent
statewide). Past-year "binge drinking" of wine coolers was reported by 27 percent of SISD
students (41 percent statewide), while 12 percent said they usually drink five or more wine
coolers at a time on average when they drink (19 percent statewide).

Fifteen percent of Star students reported attending at least one class during the past school year
while "drunk" (10 percent statewide) (Fig. 9). Eight percent of SISD 9th through 12th grade
students said that they had driven a car after having "a good bit to drink" at least once during the
past year (15 percent statewide). None of the district 9th through 12th graders reported driving
while intoxicated four or more times during the past year (4 percent statewide) (Fig. 11).

Students were asked about the availability of alcohol, its use among friends, and its use at
parties. Fifty* percent of Star ISD students said beer, wine, wine coolers, or liquor were
somewhat easy or very easy to obtain (77 percent statewide). Sixteen* percent of district
students reported most or all of their close friends drink alcohol (40 percent statewide), and 27
percent responded "from friends" when asked where they obtained alcohol most of the time or
always (40 percent statewide), rates somewhat lower than those reported by their peers
statewide. "Difficulties of any kind" with friends because of one's own drinking was reported
by 8 percent of SISD students (10 percent statewide).

Sixteen* percent of Star students said alcohol was used at most or all of the parties they
attended in the past school year, a rate lower than that reported by their peers statewide (39
percent) (Fig. 12). Twenty-seven percent of district students responded "at parties" when asked
where they obtained alcohol most of the time or always (44 percent statewide), while 6 percent
of SISD students said they get alcohol "from the store" most of the time or always (21 percent
statewide).

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Students were asked how many days during the school year they were absent from class due to
an illness or for some other reason, and how many days they had gotten into trouble because of
conduct or attitude problems. None of the SISD students who had not been absent since the
Fall reported having used alcohol during the past month (26 percent statewide), compared to 38
percent of the district students who said they had missed four or more days of school (47
percent statewide). Sixty-nine percent of the district students who had experienced difficulties
with school officials on four or more days reported using alcohol during the past 30 days (65
percent statewide). By contrast, 7* percent of district students who had not experienced
difficulties with school officials because of conduct problems had used alcohol within the past
30 days (26 percent statewide).

Parental attitudes can be a major factor in whether or not a student uses alcohol or drugs. When
asked how their parents feel about kids their age drinking beer, 83 percent of Star students said
their parents strongly or mildly disapprove (75 percent statewide). Seven percent of district
students said they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age drinking beer (10
percent statewide), and 10 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (11 percent
statewide) (Fig. 15).

Inhalants4

In general, inhalants are common, licit substances (paints, thinners, correction fluid, glue, etc.)
which, when sniffed, huffed, or inhaled, produce an intoxicating effect. Over the last two years,
use of inhalants among students statewide decreased. Overall, Star ISD students are using
inhalants at rates similar to those reported by their counterparts statewide.

Twenty-nine percent of Star students reported using inhalants at least once during their lifetimes
(19 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Six percent of Star ISD students said they had used inhalants
during the past month (5 percent statewide) (Fig. 2).

Five percent of SISD students reported most or all of their close friends use inhalants (3 percent
statewide), and 5 percent said they had attended at least one class during the past school year
while "high" on inhalants (3 percent statewide). Thirteen percent of SISD students said they
had used two or more different kinds of inhalant substances during their lifetimes (12 percent
statewide).

The inhalant substance most frequently used by Star students was gasoline (19 percent/6 percent
statewide). Twelve percent of district students said they had inhaled liquid/spray paint (7
percent statewide), 10 percent reported inhaling correction fluid/Liquid Paper (10 percent
statewide), 9 percent said they had inhaled glue (6 percent statewide), 9 percent said they had
inhaled paint thinner (6 percent statewide), 7 percent reported inhaling substances in the "other
4 Lifetime and current inhalant use figures have been adjusted to reflect reported use of both specific inhalants
and inhalant use generally. Some students responded positive to specific use without responding positive to
generic use. Some students responded positive to generic use but not specific inhalants.

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sprays" category (4 percent statewide), and 5 percent reported inhaling substances in the "other
inhalants" category (8 percent statewide) at least once during their lifetimes (Fig. 7).

None of the Star ISD students who had not been absent since the Fall reported having used
inhalants during the past month (3 percent statewide), compared to 15 percent of the district
students who said they had missed four or more days of school (6 percent statewide). Four
percent of district students who had not gotten into trouble with school officials reported using
inhalants within the past 30 days (2 percent statewide). By contrast, 21 percent of district
students who had gotten into trouble with school officials on four or more days reported using
inhalants during the past 30 days (11 percent statewide).

Illicit Drugs

Illicit drugs are defined as controlled substances and include marijuana, cocaine (powdered
form and crack), uppers (stimulants), downers (narcotics), hallucinogens, and ecstasy. Over the
last two years, the use of illicit drugs among students statewide has increased. The use of
marijuana, the most frequently used illicit substance, has also increased among students
statewide over the last two years.

In the Star ISD, 28 percent of students reported use of illicit drugs at least once during their
lifetimes (28 percent statewide), while 18 percent of SISD students said they had used one or
more illicit substances three or more times (19 percent statewide). Statewide, students who said
they had used illicit drugs reported using them an average of 1.4 times in the past 30 days and
4.2 times during their lives. Star students reported average usage rates of 0.7 times in the past
month and 4.1 times during their lifetimes.

Twenty-six percent of SISD students reported using marijuana at least once in their lifetimes
(25 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Past-month marijuana use was reported by 4 percent of Star
ISD students (12 percent statewide) (Fig. 2).

Five percent of SISD students reported attending at least one class in the past year while
"stoned" on marijuana (9 percent statewide) (Fig. 10). Driving under the influence of drugs at
least once during the past year was reported by 3 percent of Star ISD 9th through 12th grade
students (8 percent statewide).

Twenty-two* percent of SISD students said marijuana was somewhat or very easy to obtain (48
percent statewide), and 5 percent reported most or all of their close friends use marijuana (17
percent statewide). Five percent of district students said they had gotten into "difficulties of any
kind" with their friends because of their own drug use (5 percent statewide). Five percent of the
Star ISD students said that marijuana and/or other drugs were used at most or all of the parties
they attended during the school year (17 percent statewide).

None of the Star ISD students who had not been absent since the Fall reported having used
marijuana during the past month (6 percent statewide), compared to 10 percent of the district

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students who said they had missed four or more days of school (15 percent statewide). Three
percent of district students who had not gotten into trouble with school officials reported using
marijuana within the past 30 days (4 percent statewide). By contrast, 11 percent of district
students who had gotten into trouble with school officials on four or more days reported using
marijuana during the past 30 days (31 percent statewide).

When asked about parental attitudes toward marijuana use, Star students reported a disapproval
rate of 92 percent (87 percent statewide). Five percent of district students said they "don't
know" how their parents feel about kids their age using marijuana (8 percent statewide), while 2
percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (4 percent statewide) (Fig. 15).

Uppers are the next most frequently used illicit substance among Star ISD students (16
percent/7 percent statewide). Nine percent of SISD students reported using powdered cocaine
(5 percent statewide), 9 percent reported using crack (2 percent statewide), 7 percent reported
using downers (5 percent statewide), 6 percent said they had used hallucinogens (6 percent
statewide), 4 percent said they had used steroids (2 percent statewide), and 2 percent reported
using ecstasy (3 percent statewide) at least once during their lifetimes (Fig. 1).

CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH DRUG USE

Statewide, female students were less likely to have used drugs than were male students. In the
Star ISD, however, female students were somewhat more likely to report inhalants or uppers
use and nearly twice as likely to report marijuana, powdered cocaine, or crack use than were
district male students, and district females were the only students to report steroids use. District
males, on the other hand, were the only students to report ecstasy use. There were no other
significant differences by gender among SISD students with regard to tobacco, alcohol,
hallucinogens, or downers use.

In the statewide survey, students living in two-parent homes reported lower drug use than did
students living in other family situations. SISD students living in other family situations were
nearly twice as likely to report tobacco use, more than twice as likely to report alcohol use, and
more than three times as likely to report inhalants use than were those district students living in
homes with two parents, and those living in other family situations were the only students to
report marijuana, powdered cocaine, crack, hallucinogens, uppers, downers, steroids, or ecstasy
use.

When asked where they would go for help with a drug or alcohol problem, the largest
percentage of Star students said they would seek help from their friends (75 percent/74 percent
statewide). Sixty-seven percent of SISD students said they would seek help from an adult
friend or relative (57 percent statewide), and 63 percent said they would turn to their parents (54
percent statewide). District students are least likely to seek help from a counselor or program
outside of school (37 percent/45 percent statewide) (Fig. 17). Since school began in the Fall, 9
percent of Star students reported seeking help for any problems connected with alcohol or drug
use from someone other than family or friends (7 percent statewide).

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Eighty-two percent of Star ISD students said they had gotten information about drugs and
alcohol from a school source since classes began in the Fall (79 percent statewide). "An
assembly program" was reported by 67 percent of district students as a source for this
information (53 percent statewide), while 61 percent said "an invited school guest" was a source
for information about drugs and alcohol (46 percent statewide). Forty-six percent of SISD
students reported getting information about drugs and alcohol from a "health class" (46 percent
statewide).

The influence of drug education programs may be reflected in students' attitudes toward the use
of specific substances. Eighty-two percent of Star students believe that crack use is "very
dangerous" (91 percent statewide), and 82 percent believe that powdered cocaine use is "very
dangerous" (90 percent statewide). Eighty-one percent of SISD students believe that marijuana
use is "very dangerous" (67 percent statewide), and 79 percent believe that inhalant use is "very
dangerous" (77 percent statewide). By contrast, the perceived danger of alcohol and tobacco
use is lower. Seventy-two* percent of SISD students feel that it is "very dangerous" to use
alcohol (46 percent statewide), while 33 percent believe that tobacco use is "very dangerous"
(41 percent statewide) (Fig. 13).